Water cooled furnace door with angular ribs



Dec. 16, 1958 J. H. REIGHART 2,364,345 7 WATER COOLED FURNACE noon WITH ANGULAR RIBS Filed April 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 ISG l8 Fig. 2 INVENTOR.

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ATTOW Dec. 16, 1958 J. H. REIGHART WATER COOLED FURNACE DOOR WITH ANGULAR RIBS Filed April 17, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 iZZZZ-JJJLZZZZZ: I: 11:11:; 4

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WATER COOLED FURNACE DOOR WITH ANGULAR RIBS June I-li. Reighart, Cleveland, Ohio Application April 17, 1956, Serial No. 578,661

Claims. (Cl. 122-498) The invention relates to doors for furnaces and more particularly to a Water cooled door especially adapted for use upon open hearth furnaces, melting furnaces and the like, Where the inner surface of the door is exposed to extremely high temperatures, and this application is a continuation in part of my copending application Serial No. 366,485, filed July 7, 1953 and now abandoned.

It has heretofore been known to provide a furnace door comprising a hollow metal shell forming a water jacket over the entire outer side of the door communicating with wedge shape hollow vertical ribs inwardly disposed and forming locking means for a refractory material which fills the pockets between the ribs.

With such an arrangement, the water cooling in the outer portion of the door and in the inwardly disposed ribs serves to cool the lining of firebrick, fire clay, refractory cement or other high temperature refractory material with which the inner side of the door is lined. Examples of such structure are shown in U. S. Patents 387,419, issued August 7, 1888 to L. E. Jordan and 2,550,729, issued May 1, 1951 to J. E. Sticker, Jr.

A great difficulty in the past has been occasioned by the fact that with the prior art structures the refractory lining rapidly deteriorates and disintegrates due to the combination of supporting its own weight and to the furnace heat, and then burns out or falls out exposing the metal shell to the heat of the furnace, damaging the shell as well as resulting in heat loss through such exposure.

This greatly adds to the expense of maintaining the furnace in working condition because of the labor and material expense required for relining with new refractory material. There is a further disadvantage associated with down time because the furnace must be kept out of use during this door-changing operation.

The present invention contemplates certain improvements in furnace door construction which overcome the above-mentioned difficulties and disadvantages, whereby the refractory lining will be more efficiently cooled and will be retained in place for a considerably longer period of time than has been possible with conventional construction.

An object of the present invention is to provide a water cooled door for use on open hearth furnaces and the like, so constructed, without replaceable or expendable mechanical retention means, that the refractory lining will stay in place much longer than has been the case with conventional furnace doors.

Another object of the invention is to provide a furnace door comprising a steel shell forming a water jacket on.

the outer side of the door, and having water cooled, inwardly disposed, marginal rails, and one or more water cooled ribs which may extend at an angle or angles to the vertical, intermediate the marginal rails, to divide the inner side of the door into separate, transversely extending pockets which are adapted to be filled with refractory material locked into the door, and so that these ribs cool the lining and carry its load sectionally.

2,864,345 Patented Dec. 16, 1958 A further object is to provide such a water cooled fur nace door in which the angular, water cooled ribs inter sect one another.

A still further object is to provide a water cooled furnace door of the character referred to, in which the water cooled ribs are located at various angles to one another.

Another and important object of the invention is to provide such a Water cooled furnace door in which the water cooled ribs are in the form of dove-tail or triangular tubes, entirely embedded in the refractory lining so as to be completely protected thereby from the extreme temperature of the furnace.

A further important object is to provide a furnace door of this type in which the tubular dove-tail ribs are each connected directly at one end to a cold water inlet within the water jacket, the opposite end of each rib discharging into the water jacket, whereby cold water may be continuously circulated through said tubular ribs.

A still further object is to provide a furnace door of the character referred to in which an inlet manifold is connected to one end of each tubular dove-tail rib, the opposite end of each rib discharging into the water jacket.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from the drawings and following description, or which may later be referred to, may be attained by constructing the improved water cooled furnace door with tubular dove-tail Water cooled ribs arranged in the manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. I

In general terms, the invention may be described as comprising a water cooled furnace door comprising a steel shell forming a water jacket on the outer side of the door, said shell having inwardly disposed hollow marginal rails at its top, bottom and side edges, defining a pocket upon the inner side of the door for containing refractory lining material.

A plurality of triangular or dove-tail tubular ribs are entirely embedded within the refractory material and each rib extends across the door from one marginal rail to another marginal rail thereof. Each tubular rib is connected at one end to an inlet pipe located within the water jacket and communicating with an external source of cooling fluid, the other end of each rib discharging into one of the marginal rails of the water jacket, and an outlet is provided in the Water jacket at a point remote therefrom, whereby cooling fluid may be continuously circulated through the tubular ribs and then through the water jacket.

The tubular dove-tail ribs may be located at any angle to the marginal rails of the door, and may be either vertical, horizontal or diagonally disposed, and may be located at different angles, so as to cross each other, or each rail may be bent in the form of a chevron or V, but, in each case one end of each rib is connected to a fluid inlet located within one marginal rail of the water jacket and the other end thereof discharges into anothermarginal rail at a point remote from the outlet of the water jacket.

The cold water inlet pipe may be connected to one end of one of the tubular dove-tail ribs, and the other end of said rib may be connected to the adjacent end of another rib, which discharges at its other end into one of the marginal rails at a point remote from the outlet. Or, the cold water inlet may be in the form of a manifold connected to one end of each tubular rib, the opposite ends of said ribs discharging into one or more of the marginal rails at points remote from the outlet.

In all cases the tubular dove-tail ribs are entirely embedded within the refractory lining so that they are completely covered and protected by the refractory material, and each rib communicates with the Water jacket only at the point where it discharges into one of the marginal rails thereof, whereby a continuous circulation of cooling fluid is maintained from the inlet through all of the tubular ribs, and then through the water jacket to the outlet. Thus the maximum cooling is provided through the tubularribs to cool the refractory lining throughout the entire area of the door.

Having thus briefly described the invention, reference is now made to the drawings, illustrating the best modes in which I have contemplated carrying out the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of the inner or fire side of a furnace door constructed in accordance with the invention, showing an embodiment in which the tubular ribs are V-shape, a portion of the refractory lining being removed and other parts broken away for the purpose of illustration;

Fig. 2 is a similar elevation showing an embodiment in which the tubular ribs are oppositely diagonally inclined and intersect each other in the form of a cross or X;

Fig. 3 is a similar elevation of another embodiment of the invention in which the tubular ribs are horizontal;

Fig. 4 is a vertical, transverse sectional view of the furnace door shown in Fig. 3, taken as on the line 44, Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an elevation similar to Fig. 1, showing an embodiment in which the tubular ribs are disposed diagonally and parallel to each other;

Fig. 6 is a similar elevation showing an embodiment of the invention in which the tubular ribs are vertically disposed;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal, transverse section taken on the line 7-7, Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a horizontal, transverse section taken on the line 88, Fig.2;

Fig. 9 is a horizontal, transverse section taken on the line 9-9, Fig. 6; and,

Fig. 10 is a horizontal, transverse section taken on the line 1010, Fig. 5.

Referring now to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, in which similar numerals refer to similar parts, the improved furnace door to which the invention pertains, includes a hollow shell which may be of steel and which comprises an outer wall 10 and a spaced inner wall 11.

In the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 7, a plurality of dove-tailed or keyed grooves 13 are formed in the shell between opposed edges of the water cooled marginal top, bottom and side rails 14 and water cooled intervening ribs 15. These ribs are of dove-tail or triangular cross section, and as shown in Fig. 1, they are of inverted shallow V-shape, or chevron shape, and each rib 15 extends from one side rail14 to the opposite side rail.

A cooling water inlet pipe 16 is located through one side rail 14 of the door and is connected, as shown as 16, with the adjacent end of one of the tubular ribs 15. This inlet pipe 16 is adapted to be connected in usual manner to a flexible hose or the like communicating with a source of cooling fluid.

The opposite end of the rib 15, to which the inlet pipe is connected, is connected, as by a pipe 17, to the adjacent end of the other tubular rib 15, the other end of this latter rib 15 discharging into the opposite side rail 14 as indicated at 15'.

For the purpose of protecting the tubular ribs 15 from the extreme heat of the furnace, these ribs are entirely embedded within the refractory material 118, as best shown in Fig. 7. At the same time, the refractory lining 13 is protected by the ribs 15, because the cold Water entering the inlet 16 is first passed through the upper rib 15, then through the pipe 17 to the lower rib .15, and then discharged therefrom into the water jacket, at 15, remote from the outlet 21.

Thus the ribs 15 receive the maximum cooling effect,

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which they in turn convey to the refractory material 18 in which they are embedded, thus maintaining the refractory material cooler and protecting it against the heat of the furnace by continuous circulation of the incoming cool liquid through the ribs 15, after which the liquid is discharged into the water jacket and circulates therethrough to the outlet 21.

Thus a water jacket is formed over the outer side of the door serving to cool a refractory 18 which is held in place by the keyed configuration of the pocket-like openings or grooves 13. The refractory material may be either firebrick or plastic refractory material, such as a monolithic cement spread or sprayed in place, and the inclined inner walls 19 of the marginal rails and the inclined side walls 20 of the ribs serve to lock this refractory lining and sectionally support its weight within the keyed openings 13.

During use, the refractory burns and falls away, despite the fact that side walls of the ribs and marginal rails are inclined to provide wedge shape pockets. in accordance with the present invention means are provided for holding the lining in place despite burning.

As shown in the various figures of the drawing, this means includes the provision of spaced ribs which may be inclined from the vertical. That is, the ribs intermediate the marginal rails slope, e. g., in the form of chcv rons (Fig. 1), or diagonals (Figs. 2 and 5), or they may be horizontal (Fig. 3), or they may be vertical (Fig. 6), but in any event they are spaced apart to form substantially transverse refractory receiving pockets.

By way of more specific reference to the various figures, it will be seen that in Fig. l the ribs 15 take the form of chevrons, each having downwardly inclined arms which form, with the top and bottom rails and with the marginal side rails, pocket-like openings 13 which serve to hold insulating refractory lining in place and carry its load sectionally in a very effective manner.

In Figs. 2 and 8, the ribs 15a are a pair of hollow ribs, oppositely diagonally inclined and intersecting one another in a cross or X, to form a plurality of four triangular pockets 13a which likewise serve effectively to hold in place and support the refractory lining material 18.

In this embodiment, the inlet 16a is in the form of a manifold, communicating at 16a with thejupper ends of the tubular ribs 15a, the lower ends of which discharge into the lower marginal rail 14, as indicated at 1541. The water then circulates through the water jacket to the outlet 21a.

In Figs. 3 and 4, the ribs 15b are horizontal, forming a plurality of transverse pockets 13b to keep the lining from falling out, even when badly burned.

In this embodiment of the invention, the inlet 16b coinmunicates with the adjacent end of the upper rib 35b, as shown at 16b, the opposite end of said rib being connected, as by the pipe 1712, with the adjacent end of the lower rib 15b. The opposite end of this latter rib discharges into the adjacent marginal side rail at 15b, remote from the outlet 21b, and the water then circulates through the water jacket to the outlet.

In Figs. 5 and 10, the ribs 15c are parallel, and diag o-nal, and form the diagonal pockets which serve to limit the vertical length of unsupported lining and there by to accomplish the objects as above set forth.

The inlet 160 in this embodiment is in the form of a manifold communicating as at 16c with the upper ends of the tubular ribs 15c. The lower ends of these ribs discharge into the opposite side or bottom rails 14, as indicated at at points remote from the outlet Zia.

In Figs. 6 and 9 the tubular ribs 15:! are vertical, forming a plurality of pockets 13d to prevent the refractory lining 18 from falling out, even when badly burned. The inlet 16d is in the form of a manifold, communicating at 16d with the upper ends of the tubular ribs 15d. The lower ends of these ribs discharge into the lower marginal rail 14, at 15 at points remote from the outlet 21d,' whereby the cold incoming water is first circulated through the tubular ribs 150. to give the maximum cooling to the refractory lining 18, after which the water is circulated through the water jacket to the outlet.

With any of the arrangements described, the entire structure is protected from the heat of the furnace for a considerably longer time than in the conventional door because the lining will not fall out even after it is burned, and therefore the life of both lining and metallic shell is materially increased and the expense of maintaining in working condition a furnace provided with such a door is materially reduced.

Compared with prior art arrangements the frangible burnable refractory material is held in much better with the arrangements of the invention because it has more than the dove-tail to depend upon. While particular embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, various modifications may obviously be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention which is intended to be defined in the appended claims.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness and understanding, but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art, because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and are intended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construe tion illustrated and described herein are by way of example, and the scope of the present invention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, the operation, and use of preferred embodiments thereof, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained thereby; the new and useful constructions, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereof obvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A water-cooled furnace door for industrial furnaces, comprising a hollow shell forming a water jacket space over the entire outer side of the door with communicating hollow inwardly disposed marginal rails forming a recess on the inner side of the door, a plurality of tubular water-cooled ribs within said recess, disposed between certain of said hollow marginal rails, said tubular ribs being separated from the water jacket space and hollow marginal rails, a cooling water inlet directly connected to one end of at least one of said tubular ribs, the other end of said one tubular rib communicating with one of said hollow marginal rails and providing the only communication between the tubular ribs and the water jacket, an outlet in said water jacket, said tubular ribs and hollow marginal rails forming pockets therebetween, and plastic refractory material in said pockets, whereby cooling water may be circulated first through said tubular ribs and then through the water jacket.

2. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are of less cross-sectional area than the marginal rails and are entirely irnbedded in said refractory material. I

3. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the cooling water inlet is in the form of a manifold communicating with one end of each tubular rib, the other end of each rib communicating with one of said marginal rails.

4. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are vertically disposed and are located in spaced parallel relation.

5. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are diagonally disposed and are located in spaced parallel relation.

6; A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are diagonally disposed.

7. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are oppositely diagonally inclined and intersect each other in the form of an X.

8. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are horizontally disposed and are located in spaced parallel relation.

9. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the tubular ribs are in the form of chevrons, each rib having a pair of oppositely inclined arm portions.

10. A water-cooled furnace door as defined in claim 1, in which the cooling water inlet communicates with one end of one rib, the other end of said one rib communieating with the adjacent end of another of said ribs, the other end of the last-named rib communicating with one of said hollow marginal rails.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,690,619 Christy Nov. 6, 1928 2,550,729 Sticker May 1,1951 2,552,142 Braun May 8, 1951 2,645,211 Braun July 14, 1953 2,720,192 l-lumes Oct. 11, 1955 2,766,736 Del-Buono Oct. 16, 1956 

